Prince William, Duchess of Cambridge welcome baby boy - Action News
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Prince William, Duchess of Cambridge welcome baby boy

The Duchess of Cambridge, resplendent in a bright red dress, and husband Prince William emerged from a London hospital hours after Kate gave birth Monday to their third child, a boy, to give onlookers a glimpse of the new royal bundle.

Queen Elizabeth's 6th great-grandchild weighs 8 pounds, 7 ounces

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William leave the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London with their new baby boy on Monday. (Hannah Mckay/Reuters)

The Duchess of Cambridge and husband Prince William emerged from a London hospital at 1 p.m. ET (6 p.m. London time)after Kate gave birth Monday to their third child, a boy, to give onlookers a glimpse of the new royal bundle.

Carrying the baby in her arms, Kate, 36, had freshly coiffed hair and wore a bright red dress on the steps of the privateLindoWing of StMary's Hospital.He weighed eight pounds, seven ounces when he was born at 6:01 a.m. ET, just a few hours after she was admitted.

The couple smiledand waved at hundreds ofwell-wishers and assembled journalists as they left the hospital. William laterput the boy, strapped into a car seat, into a waiting car.

Princess Charlotte waves as she and her dad, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, centre, and her brother Prince George climb the hospital steps to visit the newborn. (Andy Rain/EPA-EFE)

"Thrice the worry now," William told reporters, holding upthree fingers and smilingas he got into a Land Rover to takehis wife and newborn back to Kensington Palace. "We didn't keepyou waiting too long this time."

"Very happy, very excited, thank you," he said. When askedabout a name for the boy, William said: "You'll find out sooneror later." Bookmakers have made Albert, Arthur, Jack and Fredthe favoured names for a boy.

William and Kate married in 2011. Their other children are Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, who will be three years old next month. All three children wereborn at the same hospital where William and younger brother Prince Harry came into the world.

Kate and William's third child,Queen Elizabeth's sixth great-grandchild, is fifth in line to the throne, after grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William and the two older siblings.

A 2013 change to the law means that for the first time inBritish history, a new prince will not supplant his older sister in theorder of succession. Previously, younger males would takeprecedence over older female siblings.

The BT tower in London displays news of the birth. (Stephanie Jenzer/CBC)

William's younger brother Harry, who marries U.S. actressMeghan Markle next month, falls to sixth on the list.

Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, the baby's grandfather, andother members of the Royal Family and Kate's family have beeninformed and "are delighted with the news,"Kensington Palacesaid.

Highly anticipated name decision

William appeared outside the hospital just after 4 p.m. local time, waving to onlookers before departing by car and returning about 30 minutes later with George and Charlotte, who waved to the crowd.

The official announcement of the birth was made by placing anotice on an easel in the forecourt of the Queen's London home,Buckingham Palace, a tradition that has been in place since itbecame the sovereign's official residence in 1837.

Town crier announces birth of William and Kate's third child

6 years ago
Duration 0:35
Independent town crier Tony Appleton stands outside the Lindo wing of St Mary's hospital and announces the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's third child, a boy.

Prime Minister Theresa Maycongratulated the Royal Family.

"My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy," May said. "I wish them great happiness for the future."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Gov. Gen. Julie Payette were among the international well-wishers.

The duchess carried out her last official engagement on March 22 before going on maternity leave.

As in her previous pregnancies, Kate suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness. Officials announced both her previous pregnancies before the traditional 12-week mark because she was too unwell to attend public engagements.

The birth was being overseen by consultant obstetrician Dr. Guy Thorpe-Beeston and consultant gynecologist Dr. Alan Farthing who were also called in for the births of George and Charlotte as well as the hospital's midwives.

Like the baby's other siblings, hisfull title will be HisRoyal Highness, Prince, followed by several given names.Kensington Palace said the name of the new royal would be announced in due course.

Until a 2013 law change, the Succession to the Crown Act, the baby boy's gender would have seen him move ahead of Charlotte in succession.

Supporters of the Royal Family stand outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital after Kate was admitted to hospital Monday. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters)

William gave up his day job as an air ambulance pilot last year to concentrate full time on royal duties on behalf of his grandmother.

Television crews, journalists and royal fans had set up camp outside the hospital for the "royal baby watch" since early April.

The British royals are rarely out of the media glare, butthe baby arrivedat a time when the Windsors have particularly been in the limelight.

On Saturday, William joined the Queen and other seniorroyals, with the exception of Kate, as the monarch celebratedher 92nd birthday at a televised concert.

The Queen also played a prominent role at the CommonwealthHeads of Government meeting in London last week, where it wasannounced that Charles would succeed her as head of the networkof mainly former British colonies.


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With files from Reuters